Panda in China’s Sichuan Gives Birth to Twins

The giant pandas held in captivity in China's Sichuan province has given birth to twins.

The mother Haizi gave birth to twins on June 22 at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda at the Wolong Nature Reserve in Wenchuan County. One of the offspring was a female panda.

The pair, born 10 minutes apart on Saturday, were considered the first born in the world for 2013. Each weighed under 3 ounces at birth.

A newborn panda resembles much more a rodent than the large, black and white colored huggable and cute bear it will grow up to be later on.

newborn panda resembles much more a rodent than the large, black and white colored huggable and cute bear it will grow up to be later on.

China rejoiced at how Haizi's mating with male pandas Bai Yang and Yi Bao gave off the successful natural conception of the twins, considering that it is hard to impregnate female pandas because they are only fertile between two and seven days each year.

Haizi was sent to mate off in March and by end of May, she was reportedly all set to pop out the two cubs.

Pandas are endangered due to poaching and urban development. Current statistics place 1,600 live in the wild. More than 300 live in captivity, mostly found in China's breeding programmes.